Sutton, Albert
Entry Author: David
Parry
Architect
 Albert
Sutton was born in Victoria, British Columbia on June 6, 1867.
He attended public schools in Portland, Oregon and completed
his education at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating
in 1894. He is first listed in the classified section of San
Francisco City Directories as an architect in 1896 and he
became a prolific and sought-after designer at the turn of
the last century. When licensing of architects came into effect
in 1901, Sutton was one of the first group to apply. His certificate
number was A36.
Early examples of his work in Pacific Heights may be found
at 2732 Vallejo, which dates from 1899, 1901 Franklin, which
was built as a residence in 1900 and is now a church, and
2615-23 Pacific, an imposing five-unit building built in 1902.
The home which is the subject of this month's article is
2663 Divisadero, which was designed by Sutton soon after he
bought this lot at the south-west corner of Vallejo in August
1902. It is another imposing structure with a brick exterior
which in style exhibits both English and Dutch influences.
It can be considered a playful and original composition by
a busy architect, who only had to please himself as a client.
The squeezed gables are faintly Dutch in feeling, but the
rest of the composition employs classical elements. The balustrades
with their flared bases and the overscaled keystones in the
segmental arches of the porch are somewhat Mannerist. On the
north facade, the cornice wraps around the eastern bay window.
By contrast, the western bay window is shorter, and has its
own cornice. The western extension, added in 1937, should
probably have had a bay window on the main level to tie the
north elevation together. The flat arches above the three
windows on the north side follow the line of the interior
staircase from the main level to the second level. On that
same side there are also overhanging eaves with exposed rafters
and carved rafter tails.
In 1903 Sutton took on a partner, Charles Peter Weeks, who
had studied in Paris at the renowned École des Beaux-Arts.
Together they designed these fine Pacific Heights residences
- 2221 Baker, 2562 Green, 2670 Green and 2750 Vallejo, all
in 1905. They also designed a number of residences in Presidio
Heights, including 230 Cherry and 233 Maple, both in 1904,
and 3800, 3830 and 3838 Clay, all in 1905. One of their early
commercial designs was the Baker & Hamilton building at
700 Seventh Street, built in 1904-05, which is now designated
as San Francisco Landmark #193.
Sutton lived at 2663 Divisadero until late 1909 when he sold
it to a widow, Mrs. Nydia S. Niles. The house was sold by
her estate in 1921 to Godfrey Eacret, and then sold again
in 1928 to Ellen Holladay. The home was extended in 1937 by
enlarging the old garage, building what was then described
as a library above it, but is now the living room, and adding
a deck above that off of the master bedroom. It was acquired
by the present owners from Holladay's estate. This owner,
who is also an architect, has remodeled the home extensively,
beginning soon after he purchased it in 1986.
Sutton & Weeks left a fine body of residential work in
the City in a productive partnership which lasted until 1910,
when Sutton retired for two years to his ranch in Hood River,
Oregon. Two years earlier, he had been involved in a difficult
divorce and custody battle over his two children with his
first wife, Ethel, which may have contributed to his decision
to move away from San Francisco. In 1912 he came out of retirement
to join architect Harrison A. Whitney in the firm of Sutton
& Whitney. Together they became one of the leading architectural
firms in Portland, designing several important commercial
buildings. They opened a second office in Tacoma, Washington
which Sutton supervised. Sutton died of a heart attack in
Tacoma on November 18, 1923.
Entry taken from the website of David Parry at www.classicSFproperties.com
and is used by permission. Unauthorized use of this copyrighted
material is strictly forbidden without permission from the
author.
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Born: Victoria, British Columbia, June 6, 1867